The Met: Live in HD s Season Kicks Off October 7 With A New Production of Bellini s Norma

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1 The Met: Live in HD s Season Kicks Off October 7 With A New Production of Bellini s Norma The season will feature ten transmissions, live from the Met stage, including five new productions and starry revivals featuring the world s leading artists The series will reach 73 countries on six continents in , as well as more than 750 theaters in the United States New York, NY (February 15, 2017; updated July 10) The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera s award-winning series of high-definition live cinema simulcasts, will begin its 12 th season on October 7, with a new production of Bellini s Norma directed by Sir David McVicar and conducted by Carlo Rizzi, starring one of the world s most acclaimed Normas, Sondra Radvanovsky. Live in HD audiences around the world will see ten live performances from the Met s season. The Met: Live in HD is the largest provider of alternative cinema content in the world, with more than 22 million tickets sold over the first 11 years of the series. The series brings live Met performances to more than 2,000 movie theaters in 73 countries around the world. The HD season was announced by Met General Manager Peter Gelb. This season, we re replenishing our core repertoire with new productions of Così fan tutte, Norma, and Tosca, while stretching our horizons with The Exterminating Angel and Cendrillon, said Gelb. The HD schedule includes repertory favorites and stimulating rarities with something for neophytes and aficionados alike. The Live in HD season will feature the series first broadcast of Bellini s Norma starring Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role; the Met premiere of Thomas Adès s The Exterminating Angel; Rossini s Semiramide, which has not been staged at the Met in 25

2 years; Verdi s tragedy Luisa Miller starring Sonya Yoncheva and Plácido Domingo; and the Met premiere of Massenet s Cendrillon, starring Joyce DiDonato in the title role. In addition to the productions new to Live in HD, audiences can see the Met s new stagings of Puccini s Tosca, conducted by Met Music Director Emeritus James Levine and starring Sonya Yoncheva and Vittorio Grigolo; Mozart s Così fan tutte set in the 1950s in Coney Island, with an ensemble cast including Tony Award winner Kelli O Hara. The season will also feature Mozart s full-length German opera Die Zauberflöte conducted by James Levine (the abridged version of The Magic Flute was the first Live in HD transmission in the series); Donizetti s L Elisir d Amore, starring Pretty Yende in her first Met performances as the spirited Adina with Matthew Polenzani reprising Nemorino, and Puccini s La Bohème featuring Sonya Yoncheva and Michael Fabiano as the young Parisian lovers, Mimì and Rodolfo. Complete details, including casting, are available below. Season at a Glance: The Met: Live in HD The HD season will begin on Saturday, October 7 at 12:55 p.m. with Norma. Future transmissions are as follows: Die Zauberflöte (October 14 at 12:55 p.m.); The Exterminating Angel (November 18 at 12:55 p.m.); Tosca (January 27 at 12:55 p.m.); L Elisir d Amore (February 10 at 12:00 p.m.); La Bohème (February 24 at 12:30 p.m.); Semiramide (March 10 at 12:55 p.m.); Così fan tutte (March 31 at 12:55 p.m.); Luisa Miller (April 14 at 12:30 p.m.); and Cendrillon (April 28 at 12:55 p.m.). All ten operas will be Saturday matinee performances, transmitted live from the Met stage. All start times are Eastern Time; for local start times and rebroadcast information, please visit Click here and enter the password metphotos for promotional photos of the season. Norma Vincenzo Bellini October 7, 2017 at 12:55 p.m. ET Conductor: Carlo Rizzi Production: Sir David McVicar Set Designer: Robert Jones Costume Designer: Moritz Junge The Met: Live in HD Schedule NEW PRODUCTION 2

3 Lighting Designer: Paule Constable Cast: Sondra Radvanovsky (Norma), Joyce DiDonato (Adalgisa), Joseph Calleja (Pollione), Matthew Rose (Oroveso) The season opens with a new production of Bellini s bel canto tragedy Norma, starring Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role, which she has sung to acclaim at the Met in 2013, as well as at the Canadian Opera Company, San Francisco Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Lyric Opera of Chicago making her one of the world s leading interpreters of the iconic title character. Joyce DiDonato co-stars as Norma s colleague and rival, Adalgisa, opposite Joseph Calleja as Pollione and Matthew Rose as Oroveso. Carlo Rizzi conducts and Sir David McVicar directs the new production. Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) October 14, 2017 at 12:55 p.m. ET Conductor: James Levine Production: Julie Taymor Set Designer: George Tsypin Costume Designer: Julie Taymor Lighting Designer: Donald Holder Puppet Designers: Julie Taymor and Michael Curry Choreographer: Mark Dendy Cast: Golda Schultz (Pamina), Kathryn Lewek (Queen of the Night), Charles Castronovo (Tamino), Markus Werba (Papageno), Christian Van Horn (Sprecher), Sarastro (René Pape) Met Music Director Emeritus James Levine conducts Tony Award winner Julie Taymor s production of Mozart s masterpiece, Die Zauberflöte. Golda Schultz makes her Met debut as Pamina with Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night, Charles Castronovo as the fairy tale prince Tamino, Markus Werba as the bird-catching Papageno, Christian Van Horn as Sprecher, and René Pape as Sarastro. The holiday presentation of The Magic Flute, an abridged staging sung in English for families, was the first Live in HD performance to be transmitted. This is the first time the full-length German opera will be seen in the series. The Exterminating Angel Thomas Adès MET PREMIERE November 18, 2017 at 12:55 p.m. ET Conductor: Thomas Adès Libretto: Tom Cairns, in collaboration with the composer Production: Tom Cairns Set and Costume Designer: Hildegard Bechtler Lighting Designer: Jon Clark Projection: Finn Ross Cast: Audrey Luna (Leticia Maynar), Amanda Echalaz (Lucia de Nobile), Sally Matthews (Silvia de Ávila), Sophie Bevan (Beatriz), Alice Coote (Leonora Palma), Christine Rice (Blanca Delgado), Iestyn Davies (Francisco de Ávila), Joseph Kaiser (Edmundo de Nobile), 3

4 Frédéric Antoun (Raúl Yebenes), David Portillo (Eduardo), David Adam Moore (Col. Álvaro Gómez), Rod Gilfry (Alberto Roc), Kevin Burdette (Señor Russell), Christian Van Horn (Julio), Sir John Tomlinson (Dr. Carlos Conde) The Exterminating Angel has its Met premiere this season, conducted by the composer, Thomas Adès. The 2016 opera, co-commissioned by the Met and sung in English, is based on the screenplay by Luis Buñuel and Luis Alcoriza for the acclaimed 1962 Buñuel film. Directed by the librettist Tom Cairns, the ensemble cast features Audrey Luna as Leticia Maynar; Amanda Echalaz as Lucia de Nobile; Sally Matthews as Silvia de Ávila and Sophie Bevan as Beatriz, both in Met debuts; Alice Coote as Leonora Palma; Christine Rice as Blanca Delgado; Iestyn Davies as Francisco de Ávila; Joseph Kaiser as Edundo de Nobile; Frédéric Antoun in his Met debut as Raúl Yebenes; David Portillo as Edmundo; David Adam Moore in his Met debut as Col. Álvaro Gómez; Rod Gilfry as Alberto Roc; Kevin Burdette as Señor Russell; Christian Van Horn as Julio; and John Tomlinson as Dr Carlos Conde. The Exterminating Angel is a co-commission and co-production with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Royal Danish Theatre; and Salzburg Festival, where the production premiered in Tosca Giacomo Puccini NEW PRODUCTION January 27, 2018 at 12:55 p.m. ET Conductor: James Levine Production: Sir David McVicar Set and Costume Designer: John Macfarlane Lighting Designer: David Finn Choreographer: Leah Hausman Cast: Sonya Yoncheva (Tosca), Vittorio Grigolo (Cavaradossi), Sir Bryn Terfel (Scarpia), Patrick Carfizzi (Sacristan) James Levine conducts a new staging of Puccini s dramatic tragedy, directed by Sir David McVicar. Sonya Yoncheva and Vittorio Grigolo star as the heroine Tosca and her lover Cavaradossi, with Sir Bryn Terfel as the villainous Scarpia. L Elisir d Amore (Donizetti) February 10, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. ET Conductor: Domingo Hindoyan Production: Bartlett Sher Set Designer: Michael Yeargan Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber Lighting Designed By: Jennifer Tipton Cast: Pretty Yende (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Davide Luciano (Belcore), Ildebrando D Arcangelo (Dulcamara) 4

5 Donizetti s comic gem L Elisir d Amore, staged by Bartlett Sher and conducted by Domingo Hindoyan, stars Pretty Yende as the spirited Adina, with Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino, the simple peasant who falls in love with her. Davide Luciano makes his Met debut as the role of Adina s arrogant fiancé, Belcore and Ildebrando D Arcangelo sings the role of the magic potion-peddling Doctor Dulcamara. Domingo Hindoyan makes his company debut conducting. La Bohème (Puccini) February 24, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. ET Conductor: Marco Armiliato Production: Franco Zeffirelli Set Designer: Franco Zeffirelli Costume Designer: Peter J. Hall Lighting Designer: Gil Wechsler Cast: Sonya Yoncheva (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Michael Fabiano (Rodolfo), Lucas Meachem (Marcello), Alexey Lavrov (Schaunard), Matthew Rose (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro) An exciting young cast stars in Franco Zeffirelli s classic production of La Bohème, the most-performed opera in Met history. Sonya Yoncheva stars as Mimì opposite Michael Fabiano as the passionate writer Rodolfo. Susanna Phillips reprises the role of the flirtatious Musetta and Lucas Meachem sings the role of her lover, the painter Marcello. The cast also features Alexey Lavrov and Matthew Rose as Rodolfo and Marcello s friends Schaunard and Colline and Paul Plishka as Benoit and Alcindoro in this performance, led by Marco Armiliato. Semiramide (Rossini) FIRST TIME IN HD March 10, 2018 at 12:55 p.m. ET Conductor: Maurizio Benini Production: John Copley Set Designer: John Conklin Costume Designer: Michael Stennett Lighting Designer: Gil Wechsler Cast: Angela Meade (Semiramide), Elizabeth DeShong (Arsace), Javier Camarena (Idreno), Ildar Abdrazakov (Assur), Ryan Speedo Green (Oroe) Angela Meade makes her Met role debut as the title character in Semiramide. Rossini s opera, which has not been seen at the Met in 25 years, will be conducted by Maurizio Benini and feature Elizabeth DeShong as the Commander of the Assyrian army Arsace, Javier Camarena as an Indian king Idreno, Ildar Abdrazakov as the prince Assur, and Ryan Speedo Green as the high priest Oroe. 5

6 Così fan tutte (Mozart) NEW PRODUCTION March 31, 2018 at 12:55 p.m. ET Conductor: David Robertson Production: Phelim McDermott Set Designer: Tom Pye Costume Designer: Laura Hopkins Lighting Designer: Paule Constable Cast: Amanda Majeski (Fiordiligi), Serena Malfi (Dorabella), Kelli O Hara (Despina), Ben Bliss (Ferrando), Adam Plachetka (Guglielmo), Christopher Maltman (Don Alfonso) Phelim McDermott returns to the Met staging Mozart s comedy Così fan tutte, led by David Robertson. Set in the 1950s on Coney Island, the cast features Amanda Majeski as the conflicted Fiordiligi; Serena Malfi as her sister, Dorabella; Tony Award winner Kelli O Hara as their feisty maid, Despina; Ben Bliss and Adam Plachetka as the sisters fiancés, Ferrando and Guglielmo; and Christopher Maltman as the cynical Don Alfonso. Così fan tutte is a co-production with the English National Opera. Luisa Miller (Verdi) FIRST TIME IN HD April 14, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. ET Conductor: James Levine Production: Elijah Moshinsky Set and Costume Designer: Santo Loquasto Lighting Designer: Duane Schuler Cast: Sonya Yoncheva (Luisa), Olesya Petrova (Federica), Piotr Beczala (Rodolfo), Plácido Domingo (Miller), Alexander Vinogradov (Walter), Dmitry Belosselskiy (Wurm) Met Music Director Emeritus James Levine conducts a revival of Luisa Miller, which has not been seen at the Met since Starring Sonya Yoncheva as a peasant girl Luisa opposite Piotr Beczala as Rodolfo in Verdi s tragedy about a young woman who sacrifices her own happiness in an attempt to save her father s life. The cast also stars Plácido Domingo as Luisa s father Miller, with Olesya Petrova as Federica, and Alexander Vinogradov in his Met debut and Dmitry Belosselskiy as Walter and Wurm respectively, the ruthless men determined to tear Luisa and Rodolfo apart. Cendrillon (Massenet) April 28, 2018 at 12:55 p.m. ET Conductor: Bertrand de Billy Production: Laurent Pelly Set Designer: Barbara de Limburg Costume Designer: Laurent Pelly Lighting Designer: Duane Schuler MET PREMIERE 6

7 Cast: Joyce DiDonato (Cendrillon), Alice Coote (Le Prince Charmant), Stephanie Blythe (Madame de la Haltière), Kathleen Kim (La Fée), Laurent Naouri (Pandolfe) Massenet s enchanting opera Cendrillon, based on Cinderella, premieres at the Met conducted by Bertrand de Billy and directed by Laurent Pelly, whose Met credits include staging Donizetti s La Fille du Régiment and Massenet s Manon. Joyce DiDonato adds another role to her Met repertory as the title character, a role she has sung to acclaim at the Grand Teatre del Liceu, Santa Fe Opera, and Royal Opera, Covent Garden. The cast also stars Alice Coote as Prince Charmant, Stephanie Blythe as the evil stepmother Madame de la Haltière, Kathleen Kim as the Fée, and Laurent Naouri as Pandolfe. Cendrillon is produced in association with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London; Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona; Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie, Brussels; and Opéra de Lille. This production was first performed at The Santa Fe Opera. The Met: HD Live in Schools The Met s HD Live in Schools program will continue for its 11 th season, partnering with 45 school districts across the country to bring the Met s live HD transmissions to students and teachers. The Met s HD education program includes backstage visits for students, who learn how costumes and scenery are constructed; Q&As with artists; access to final dress rehearsals; in-school workshops; and teacher training workshops. Program and curriculum guides are created for in-school use in conjunction with HD screenings. HD Live in Schools is generously supported by Bank of America, with program support provided through a partnership with the New York City Department of Education. In the coming season, students will study Die Zauberflöte, Tosca, L Elisir d Amore, Così fan tutte, and Cendrillon. About The Met: Live in HD The Met: Live in HD series, which now reaches more than 2,000 theaters in 73 countries, makes the Met the world s leading provider of alternative cinema content and the only arts institution with an ongoing global series of this scale. When the series launched in 2006, the Met was the first arts company to experiment with alternative cinema content. Since then, the program has grown every season, with more than 22 million tickets sold to date. The Met: Live in HD series has increased accessibility to Met performances for audiences around the world. With a global average ticket price of $23 in the season, 7

8 the series has made world-class performances accessible to millions of opera lovers each season. Met stars serve as hosts for the HD series, conducting live interviews with cast, crew, and production teams, and introducing popular behind-the-scenes features. Tickets for the 10 transmissions in the Live in HD season will go on sale on July 19, 2017 in the U.S. and Canada, with Met Members offered priority before tickets are made available to the general public. International ticket sales dates and details on ordering tickets for the Live in HD series vary from country to country and will be announced separately by individual distributors. The Met: Live in HD series is made possible by a generous grant from its founding sponsor, The Neubauer Family Foundation. Global sponsorship of The Met: Live in HD is provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Transmission of The Met: Live in HD in Canada is made possible thanks to the generosity of Jacqueline Desmarais, in memory of Paul G. Desmarais Sr. Within months of their initial live transmissions, the Live in HD programs are shown on PBS. The PBS series, Great Performances at the Met, is produced in association with PBS and WNET, with support from Toll Brothers, America s luxury home builder. Additional funding is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. Contact: Lee Abrahamian / Michelle Zelman Metropolitan Opera (212) labrahamian@metopera.org / mzelman@metopera.org 8